Aeroplane wing



April 28, 1925.

W. L. GILMORE AEROPLANE WING Filad Aug: 30. 1924 ATTORNEY li atentedApr. 28, 1925.

STATES WILLIAM. L. ernmo'nn,

6: TJLOEEFR COMPANY, INCJ, OF GARDEN H'JEW YORK.

'03? MINEOLA, NEW YORK, AS SIGNOR TO CURTISS AER-OPLANE CITY, LONGISLAND, A. CORPORATION 015 AEROIIiANE WING.

Application filed August 30, 1924. Serial No. 735,078.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLI M L. Gimuonn, citizen of the United States,residing at lliiin'eola, L. 1., in the county of Nassau and :3 sons ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful. improvements inAeroplane Wings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aerot'oils for airto craft and more particularlyto improvements in the method. and manner of covering aeroplanesupporting surfaces or wings.

The prac 'ce, heretofore,in the construction of aerofoils. has been toprovide either a wood or metal framework of predetermined profile, andover such framework fasten, by any appropriate means, a suitablecovering; such covering being formed either of fabric,

7 veneer or metal, the choice of material ,de-

so pending primarily upon the character of the framework en'rpl vcd.lilaoh of the above mentioned materials. as an acrofoil.covering, hasits particular advantages and disadvantages. Fabric, while extremelylight and COIllPillzlilVQlY inexpensive, is effected by weatherconditions, and must periodically, at least. be renewed. Metal orveneer, on the other hand, and especially nietal, while. heavy ascompared to fabric, and more 'exponsive, is neverthelessvvery oftendesirable as a covering material in view of its inherent strength, aswell as its ability to withstand-hard usage without rapid deteriorationunder varying weather conditions.

The object of the present invention is to effect a compromise upon theadvantages and disadvantages of the now used covering mate1ials;retaining: in so far as possible the advantages of both and at the sametime no eliminating: the known disadvantages. In effecting thiscompromise it is proposed to provide, (1) a skeleton fran'iework of conventional design 2) a top coverings of metal in which the coveringmaterial is carried 5 respectively to the leading edge and the trailingedge of the framework, and (3) an under or bottom covering of fabric. Inthus using metal and fabric; metal, which is in herently strong.serviceable and lasting; is

so .nsed where greatest strength, serviceability endtlongevity arerequired. i. e.. upon that surface of the aerofoil wholly unprotected,against the elements, whereas fabric, which is more oraless effected bythe weather and 56 which can be cheaply and quicklyremove'd and renewedshould inspection or repair of the framework be required, is used whereprotection against the elements is at all times afforded by the metaltop covering itself. An aerofoil thus characterized has the advantagesof a fabric covered aerofoil in part and of a metal covered aerofoil inpart, whereas the inconveniences and dissdvantages of both are to alarge degree eliminated.

Other objects, advantages and improved results will be hereinafter setforth.

7 In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a

Fig. 1 is a view in transverse section of an aeroplane wing showing theframework construction as well as the manner in which the coveringtherefor is disposed;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing onlv a portion of the wing, somewhatenlarged,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in front elm-ation, of a portion of thewing showing the method and manner in which the under fabriccovering-for the framework is fastened; i

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of an aerofoilshowing the manner in which the metal covering is fastened. and

Figs o' and (fare views similar to Fig. 4 showing slightly modifiedforms of cover fastening.

1n the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration anaeroplane wine, or supporting surface of conventional profile is shown.Said wing or supporting surface comprises a forward wing beam 10, a rearwing-beam 11, a multiplicity of ribs 12, a leading edge strip. 13 and a.trailing edge strip 14. all of said parts. as herein illusstrated, beingof metal construction and collectively constituting a skeleton frameworkover which the covering .for the wing is disposed. Preferably beams 10and 11, and the ribs 12 are of trussed construction the they 0 may be,of course, constructed of wood or any other material and formeddifferently than herein shown. Upon the top surface of the framework :1metal outer covering 15 is laid. Said outer covering preferablycomprises a pluralityot metal strips (aluminum or one of its alloysbeing preferred) arranged in overlapping relation and riveted in placeas at 16 to the ribs 12 as illus-. trated in, Fig. 4. These metal stripsor edge of the Wing the metal covering is similany appreciable arlyarranged whereby at the trailing edge the metal covering is carried overand under the trailing edge strip 14. thus used not only lends addedstrength to the wing but it lnOltk-veli bover-ing 'for the "extent 'bytheelements.

providing 2;, similar covering 1 nstead of forthe under his used; "Theunder/surface of theiwing,

3Q urtherinore, iii-has vheen'iiound used the metal covering 15 where it50f top inetal covering are shown. In -the sheets of metal are rivetedto the ynlike the top surface thereofiis seldom exposed tothe herd v thetop covering of the the fact-that fabric is less ,exipensive 'thstshric' is employed as herein i' shown; inj'przietice,

that in covering an aeroplane Wing entirely with 'niet'nl, lgreiitinconvenience and annoy- 4 shoe is-encountered when inspection orrepa'jii of tlie-framework is required. "In sun stituting fabric formetal as -the bottom coverin'g', this inconvenience and annoyance is valmost: entirely fact that the fabriccovez'ing may he, removedeliminated by reason of the quite easily and replaced at Will. Fabric;

moreover, being more or less fragile end. in

furiously efiected by the elements, as a covering throughout that of thewin where all times it 'orded.

is only portion greatest protect on. 18 at At the leading edge and atthe trailiiiig edge of the Wing the fabric covering 16 hips isfirst'fnstened by gluing or by any other suitable means and Where suchfastening is reinforced hy's fabric'strip 1? doped and glued over theoverlapping portion as indicated. in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 5 and 6, slightly modified .fornis Fig. 5 frame work as at 18and to each other asst 19, the adjacent edges of juxtaposed sheets beinginterlocked by carrying the edge of one of said sheets over and upon theupturned edge of the other. In Fig. 6 the fastening is'the Metalcovering v affords a, rigid" framework unafiectedto against theelementsthe advsnteges of fabric as covering are ear and rough usage" a thereinwithout some es indicated in Fig. fercncc being" that the ru' eted as at20 .ind' errengement of Fig. i.

The advento es of e Wing chemcteris shove set forti are many fold. in i4., the only difmetal sheets ass 80?.- instead of being flat as a i Jmetal as the top cover ng that corner: of the hile I have described myinvention in detail in its present preferredem'oodiment, it Willhebbvious to those skilled in the an after understu'nding' my invention,that vnri ous changes and modifications may be mad departing from. thesit or scope thereof. 1

What I claim is:

ton framework, :1. ried z'esioectively to the leadingcdge nndto the traiing ed e covering of fa ric likewise carried respectively to the leadingedge and to the trailing g I 2. An aeroplane Wing including a skeletonframework, a. top covering of metal carried over and under both theleading edge and the trailing edge of the wing and an under covcringe?fiibi'ic having its front and rear e'dges respectively instened to thecorres ponciing edges ofthe metal covering.

3, An aeroplane ton f e-mowers, top covering of metal ffot" theframework having its front edge end its rear edge lapped over and underthe leading edge and the trailing edge respew tively of the Wing, andunder covering of fabric having front and ear edge lapped over snd uponthe cm edges of the metal covering; wi fastened.

In testimony whereof ii hereunto this my signature.

I herdest usage is amply pro= tected vdue to the inherent ualities of th.nietsl itself; Infiimi'ting aim in'the spgsended claims to cover allsuch modifications and changes. v

of the wing, and an under.

Wing including a, skele" icsted in connection with the prefiei'seei-L'An aeroplane wing including o skole top covering ofnietel cnr-

